CANCER FRANCE ISSUE No. 10 SUPPORT AUTUMN 2019 DORDOGNE EST & LOT NEWS FROM THE ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT Autumn is now quietly creeping upon us after some glorious prolonged summer weather during September. This edition of our Newsletter contains updates about our Association as well CSF National events. It also includes some medical and health support information. We are currently considering a variety of approaches to make contact with English-speaking communities within our region, to ensure people are aware of the support we are able to provide should they find themselves affected by cancer, and also, to outline the different ways people can be involved as volunteers. FROM THE NEWSLETTER EDITOR The importance of a translator - We have both recently had to go for various ‘maintenance’ tests and on both occasions, we thought it was just a case of turning up and waiting in the appropriate place and wait for our names to be called. All well and good if the place you are told to go to by past ‘users’ is correct. Not so on either occasion; I walked in and climbed the stairs and waited on the first floor; 15 minutes later I realised that others were being called in before me. I tried to make myself understood when a man in a white coat appeared. I showed him my piece of paper and he very gently took hold of my wrist and escorted me back downstairs to the correct waiting area; I felt like a child! And then again, I waited… and waited. I showed the girl who was calling out everyone’s names except mine. Showing my piece of paper again, she gabbled on in her mother tongue to which my mother tongue had no understandable response. So I went home and called my translator. It turns out I had the wrong time - my time was 13.06. Returning, I sad down in the correct area and my name was duly called. There wasn’t much conversation required to have my blood taken. Together, we had a similar situation for my husband’s appointment for a scan at our principal hospital where we were told to turn left and left again by another ‘user’. The place was barren, bare, empty. Another 15 minutes later and we decided to see where we should be and found someone in a white coat and waved the piece of paper at them. Enough said - we were in the wrong place! I was in charge of his medical folder and had to retrieve it from the chair where I’d left it in the empty waiting area. I said I’d do a small piece on the kind of services outside of the general healthcare system. For cancer, we have MABS Cancer Support Group (Marina Alta Breast (cancer) Support. Like CSF, MABS was created by five ladies with breast cancer who could find no support during and after their treatment. This was in 1999 and one of their founders received an MBE. In 2017, name changed to MABS Cancer Support Fondación; this recognises them as a highly important support organisation within Spain for everyone living in the country. MABS continued… MABS has Dutch, Spanish and German-speaking support in all regions which reflects the various nationalities represented as well as the English. Their volunteers are trained but I’m not sure that it is in the same depth as CSF’s training. I’m not aware of their full training as I am not a member. Naturally, confidentiality is key to MABS as it is to CSF as well as Trust, Honesty and Integrity. They also have an on-line blog and organise various fund-raising events; their latest will be The Autumn Walk for Cancer on October 6th. Donations Once again we are grateful to the very kind individuals and groups who donate to our Association and in particular, The Cake Group who, also through their Auction Site, support us throughout the year. ****** The Catus Cricket Club who also support us throughout the year. They held a very enjoyable and entertaining Musical Evening in June with the proceeds being generously donated to our Association. Book Sale Please go along and support this event and stock up for your winter reading. 2 Active Listener Training At our June Training afternoon we were very grateful to Dr Augeix, a local médecin traitante, for coming to talk to our Active Listeners about the support provided to patients by the GP. She also talked about the liaison with other agencies that is possible to ensure appropriate diagnosis, treatment and care for those affected by cancer. Our Active Listeners, in turn, will pass on relevant aspects from this talk to their clients as and when appropriate. Our Association was delighted to welcome the CSF National Training Officer, Carol Quinlan. to the September training afternoon. Pat Hoffman, the latest Active Listener to be trained, received her certificate at the start of the session. Pat being presented with her Active Listener Certificate by our President, Heather Initial Training Course Our Association Trainers, Pat Lockett and Heather Moorhead, ran the two-day Initial Training Course in May at Lavercantière with the follow-up on the third day in July. This was attended by candidates from other Associations as well as from our own area. CSF National The CSF National Administrative Secretary kindly opened her garden for a picnic and Musical Evening in July. The weather was idyllic and a large number of people gathered to eat and enjoy listening to the music and to have a dance. The band played for free and over 1000€ was raised for CSF National with donations being given to the three neighbouring Associations to the venue. Our Association was very grateful to be one of these. As you will see form the photographs taken by our Association President, Heather, our colleague and CSF National President, Pat Lockett, thoroughly enjoyed the evening. 3 Presentation by Professor Dubois - held at L’instant T, Thezan-les-Beziers June 25th 2019 Professor Dubois introduced himself as a radiation oncologist with 45 years experience working to treat cancer patients, including as Director General of the ICM (Cancer Institute of Montpellier) for 15 years. He is now the President of La Ligue contre le cancer Comite in the Herault. The presentation started with two over-arching points of statistical interest relating to cancer and cancer treatment: - 1. There has been an increased incidence of cancer (+33% in the last 10 years) 2. There is a reduced mortality rate from cancer (reducing by 150,000 per year; -2.9 for men and -1.4 for women) These statistics relate to the following four points: - Diagnosis has improved New therapeutic methods and concepts are in place and making a difference Research has led to greater understanding of how cancers work and respond Some cancers can be avoided by prevention work Prevention It is estimated that 35-40% of cancers are avoidable: - a. External factors Physical X-rays UV/sun Chemical Nutritional causes: obesity is a significant factor. There are also clear guidelines now encouraging a reduction in the consumption of red meat (max 700g p/wk) and in processed foods and drinks. Increased consumption of vegetables and fruit are recommended to at least 5 portions a day Toxic agents: pesticides, asbestos etc Infections HBV, HCV HPV Helicobacter pylori: based in the colon and can cause gastric cancer Addictions Alcohol: 16,000 deaths pa in France from alcohol related cancers Tobacco: 35,000 deaths pa in France from tobacco related cancers The full report is available from Heather Moorhead: - [email protected] 4 Thermal Cure at Avène Have you ever considered taking a Cure Thermale or ‘taking the waters’ in English? Then why not consider, the Avène Hydrotherapy Centre: - www.avenecenter.com Avène, a historical village and thermal spa resort in a preserved environment, situated in the Haut-Languedoc Regional Nature Park, in the Orb valley in the Hérault, approximately one hour from Montpellier, one hour from Béziers as well as one hour from Millau. The Avène Hydrotherapy Centre has a spa dedicated to dermatology and to the treatment of skin disorders; eczema, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, ichthyosis and burns, as well as to post-cancer burn and scar therapy. The worldwide renown of the high quality and effectiveness of the local spring water and it’s skin treatments is rooted in history; the centre has been state approved since 1874. The Centre is internationally renowned for its dermatological treatments and has extended its’ dermatological expertise to the skin and oral side effects of cancer treatments. Patients arrive often from far for the treatment of: - damaged weakened, dry, hyper-reactive and sometimes burnt skin. All these problems can occur after surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatments, which are used to treat many types of cancer. Making hard times easier and helping restore comfort and well-being to the skin are among the benefits of a 3-week treatment program at Avène, a program that can be seamlessly incorporated into the concerned patient’s overall care. A clinical study conducted at the Centre made it possible to demonstrate a significant improvement in Quality of Life, but also in the principal signs of skin discomfort related to breast cancer treatments: - chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy. The organisation of your stay will call for specific needs. Therefore, they offer several accommodation options to help you with your researches and your choice. Booking accommodation is the second step in the booking process after making an appointment with the doctor. One hotel is ‘on site’ whilst other varying accommodation can be found from 700m away to a few kilometres.